February 2016 - Report and Summary

by Robert K. Peters, Ph.D. - National Weather Service Cooperating Observer

The month of February 2016 was much warmer and drier than normal. The thirty-day outlook had called for below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. The January 31 revision did not change this outlook. Compared with 2015, the month was 7.7 deg. Warmer, and 1.55 inches drier. Year-to-date rainfall was five inches less in 2016 than in the previous year.

No major systems affected East Texas during the first half of the month. The 1st was warm, then cold fronts crossed at roughly two--to three-day intervals. Temperatures would warm slightly ahead of the fronts, and cool behind them. A weak storm system brought one-fourth inch or less of rain on the 6th. This system later intensified into a strong area of low pressure off New England, resulting in strong winds on the 8th and 9th.

Another storm system crossed on the 15th. It brought rains of up to two inches, with amounts increasing from southwest to northeast. It, too, intensified into a strong system affecting the Eastern states. Temperatures remained above normal through the 21st, with windy conditions on the 18th. Temperatures warmed between the 19th and 22nd under upper air high pressure and a
southerly surface flow.

A storm system crossed on the 23rd, with rains of one to four inches. This system also intensified after departing the region, resulting in heavy snowfall from the
Ohio Valley into the St. Lawrence Valley. Temperatures were cool from the 24th through the morning of the 27th, with warming to above normal from the afternoon of the 27th through the 29th.

KEY TO SYMBOLS:

A = HAIL

B = BLOWING

D = DUST

F = FOG

H = HAZE

IP = SLEET

K = SMOKE

L = DRIZZLE

R = RAIN

S = SNOW

T = THUNDERSTORM

Z = GREENWICH MEAN TIME

ZL = FREEZING DRIZZLE

ZR = FREEZING RAIN

- = LIGHT

+ = HEAVY

The reporting period for temperatures and phenomenon on each day is for the twenty-four hours ending at midnight hours GMT--6 p.m. CST and 7 p.m. CDT. The reporting period for precipitation is for the twenty-four hours ending at noon GMT--6 a.m. CST and 7 a.m. CDT. All times are given using the twenty-four hour clock, and are expressed in Greenwich Mean Time.

Observations are from NWS Station 41/9207/4 in Tyler, Texas. The term "normal" refers to averages from the standard climatic period 1971-2000.